ANDY NEWPORT

Andy Halliday believes Mark Warburton should ignore the January sales – because his Rangers squad is already good enough to clinch second spot.

Ibrox manager Warburton is looking to add a couple of new faces next month and boost Rangers’ bid for Europe.

His former Brentford playmaker Jota has been linked with a move to Glasgow and Warburton says he is close to securing a couple of targets.

But after Rangers won three straight Ladbrokes Premiership games for the first time this season, midfielder Halliday believes the manager’s current group is now on course to finish as runners-up to runaway leaders Celtic.

The 25-year-old admits it did not always look that way after Rangers made a stuttering start on their return to the top flight.

However, consecutive wins over Aberdeen, Hearts and Hamilton have restored confidence to the ranks and Halliday is convinced that momentum can see Ibrox side through to May.

He said: “I have been asked that question about January signings a lot, and I think certainly with the squad just now we are good enough.

“There were questions raised on that point earlier this season - and deservedly so as we weren’t playing well at that point - but I think we have shown over the last few weeks that we are good enough.

“But if the gaffer sees that we need one or two players to help us out, then brilliant. We are all going towards the same aim at the end of the season, and if we can get the one or two in - or whatever it is we are trying to bring in - then great.”

Halliday’s team-mate Barrie McKay raised eyebrows earlier this month when he declared Rangers had not given up hope of reining in the undefeated Parkhead side.

But boyhood Rangers fan Halliday confessed the possibility of his colleagues snatching the title back is likely already gone.

He said: “Such are the expectations and demands we place on ourselves, we want to win every single game. But we’ve probably dropped too many points already this season to be in a title race as such at this time.

“But it’s important for us that we continue to keep picking up points and chip away at that lead.

“The last three weeks have been a lot better. It was important for us that we started putting in better performances and the most pleasing thing for me was that it was three very convincing performances and we’ve managed to get nine points out of it.”

With the Hogmanay Old Firm duel just over a week away, Rangers will hope to maintain their recent form when they take on Inverness on Saturday.

But Halliday is refusing to allow himself be distracted by the thought of gaining revenge for the two painful defeats his side have already suffered at the hands of their bitter rivals this term.

Asked if the Celtic clash at Ibrox had entered his thinking, he said: “It hasn’t at all. We go again on Saturday to try and make it four in a row. It’s our first time getting three in a row last Friday against Accies and now we have a bit of momentum so it’s all guns blazing towards Inverness.

“Complacency is something we can’t let creep in. We have managed to pick a few wins up of late, so it’s important that we go again and try to get a good performance first and foremost.

“We know we need to be at our best to beat Inverness. The last time we played them up there place was a game of two halves. We thought we played really well in the first half that day, and should have been out of sight with a couple of goals.

“But in the second half, Inverness deserved to get something out of the game.

“They had a couple of great chances towards the last 15 or 20 minutes but we held on for the win. We would like to think we are a different team now, however.

“We’ve shown that over the last few weeks we are starting to put in good performances as well as results, so on Saturday it’s important to continue the run of form.”